Vizag Test: Virat Kohli expects turn on pitch for the better against England

There was a nice little cat and mouse game being played out in the centre of the ground at the YSR ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium with the ground staff keeping both teams guessing as to the nature of the wicket

A priest gives prasad to Team India coach Anil Kumble after a 'pitch puja' ahead of the second Test against England at the YSR ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. Pic/PTI

Visakhapatnam: There was a nice little cat and mouse game being played out in the centre of the ground at the YSR ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium with the ground staff keeping both teams guessing as to the nature of the wicket.

It was no wonder that both captains chose to refrain from naming their starting XIs, preferring to wait until the morning of the match. But as mid-day learnt, it will probably be the Indians who will be the happier lot when the game gets underway. The curator may have stated that he expects the ball to turn from Day Two but the real story could be that it starts turning on Day One itself — which is what Indian skipper Virat Kohli wants it to do.

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"Generally in Vizag, the pitch has always helped the spinners. So I expect the pitch to play similarly. In Rajkot, I was surprised to see that much grass on the wicket. I hope it's not the case this time around because we want to focus on our strengths and play the cricket that we have as a team at home and put the pressure on the opposition," said Kohli, making it clear that home advantage must be utilized to the hilt.

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